Bradley Cooper

Bradley Charles Cooper (born January 5, 1975) is an American actor, filmmaker, producer, and occasional singer whose career spans television, independent films, and major blockbusters. Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by a stockbroker father of Irish descent and an Italian-American mother who worked in the local NBC affiliate, Cooper initially pursued a degree in English from Georgetown University before earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School at The New School. His early career included guest spots on shows like Sex and the City in 1999 and a role in the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer (2001), but he achieved widespread recognition as Phil in the 2009 hit The Hangover , which grossed over $467 million worldwide and spawned sequels. Cooper's transition to dramatic roles earned him three consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Sniper (2014)—where he portrayed Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and contributed to the film's $547 million box office—and A Star Is Born (2018), which he co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in opposite Lady Gaga, resulting in additional Oscar nods for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song, alongside Grammy wins for "Shallow." His directorial debut expanded with Maestro (2023), a biographical drama about conductor Leonard Bernstein that he also produced and starred in, securing further Academy Award nominations including for Best Picture and Best Actor. These accomplishments, bolstered by voice work in films like Guardians of the Galaxy and production credits on projects such as Joker , underscore his versatility and commercial success in Hollywood.

Bradley Cooper was born Bradley Charles Cooper on January 5, 1975, in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , to Charles John Cooper, a stockbroker of Irish descent, and Gloria Campano, of Italian descent. His parents raised him and his older sister, Holly , in Jenkintown, a suburb just outside Philadelphia , after purchasing their family home there in 1970; Gloria Campano continues to reside in the property.

The Cooper household reflected a blend of Irish and Italian cultural influences within a traditional Roman Catholic framework, with Gloria initially staying home to care for the children while Charles commuted for work; she later took a position at a local NBC affiliate. Cooper has described his upbringing as rooted in Philadelphia's working-class ethos, emphasizing strong family bonds and everyday routines like his father's post-work coaching of youth baseball .

Charles Cooper died on January 15, 2011, from lung cancer , an event that Cooper has credited with deepening his appreciation for family proximity and influencing his personal life choices. Despite professional demands, Cooper maintained close ties with his parents and sister, frequently citing their support as foundational to his development.

Bradley Cooper graduated from Germantown Academy , the oldest nonsectarian day school in the United States located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania , in 1993. Following high school, he attended Villanova University , his father's alma mater, for one year before transferring to Georgetown University . At Georgetown, Cooper majored in English and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Cooper enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School, part of The New School in New York City, graduating in 2000. There, he developed his acting skills through intensive training, including performing the role of John Merrick from The Elephant Man for his graduate thesis. Prior to graduate school, Cooper had not formally studied acting, focusing instead on his English degree during college.

As a child, Cooper displayed an early interest in cooking, often preparing meals for kindergarten friends by improvising with available refrigerator ingredients.